CSA could lose R2.5 million a day from shortened India tour

Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa (CSA) could lose up to 2.5 million rand a day in revenue if the Indian tour later this year is shortened, according to a media report.

The Afrikaans daily Beeld quoted sources as saying that CSA stands to lose about R300 million in total if the India tour is shortened, particularly from TV broadcast rights.

Sources also said that CSA is not in a position to take the matter to court, as India is yet to sign the ICC Future Tours Programme and would therefore not have to account if it shortened proposed tours and arranged others.

CSA had announced earlier this year that India would tour the country for three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 matches between November 18 and January 25.

Although there had not been any denial or confirmation of this from the BCCI since then, the Indian board officials announced yesterday that the West Indies would tour India in early November and India would go to New Zealand for two Tests and three ODIs in January.

That would effectively cut into the South African plan and shorten the visit, with insiders saying that India want only three ODIs and two games in each of the other formats.

The shortened tour appears to be confirmed by New Zealand`s yesterday that the first ODI against India would be on January 19, which would have been the final day of the third and last Test between the Proteas and India at the Wanderers as per the CSA agenda.

Although CSA would not comment on the situation, chief executive Haroon Lorgat had last week reaffirmed to PTI that he was keen to go to India to resolve the impasse.